A good example of a great premise not as well executed as it could have been.
The film is too long for a horror movie and dissipates what could have been a great deal more tension and suspense in the process. Yet, in the last half-hour, it comes good on its terror promise and actually does have you on the edge of your seat. The expected ending does not materialize and you suddenly realize that the plot twists and red herrings put the extended family shown here under great threat from an unexpected source. The film also captures well the essence of bad dreams as being those referring to unresolved, misunderstood and inescapable personal issues.
Another issue arises in that this film could be seen as a satire on the negative affects of tv on the Family, especially as regards the largely feminine addiction to soap operas. It does this by conflating both the movies Videodrome and Poltergeist in the idea of the gogglebox being the enemy within every household that owns one.
The other good thing about this movie is that the characters are well drawn, particularly the soap obsessed distaff side of the family. Additionally, too, as regards the male side working long and hard to keep their women in comfort – and being very happy to do so. These people actually relate to one another as male & female and understand their sex roles without irony or pretence.
Copyright © 2009 Frank TALKER. Permission granted to reproduce and distribute it in any format; provided that mention of the author’s Weblog (http://franktalker5.blogspot.com/) is included: E-mail notification requested. All other rights reserved.
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